Jazz

Antonia Bennett

9/10/2010
Matt Thompson

Everybody knows world famous singer Tony Bennett, he's been near the centerpiece of music for quite some time. But now it's time to introduce his daughter, Antonia Bennett, with her first EP, "Natural." She's been singing for years and has paired with producer Holly Knight (whose written songs for stars such as Bon Jovi, Tina Turner and Ozzy Osbourne) to create a smooth sounding, energetic and unique EP. She spoke with TheCelebrityCafe's Matt Thompson about her new album.

TheCelebrityCafe: So you just released your first EP, Natural.

Antonia Bennett: Yeah!

Adams, Oleta

8/8/2003
Dominick A. Miserandino
Oleta Adams talks about her marriage, her relationship with her husband (who is also her drummer) and her musical influences of the choir in church.

DM) I heard that you're very excited about the new tour and album. Is it like doing it the first time again, every time you go out on tour?

OA) You know, it always is. When you're working with different music, you're hoping to attract, not only the same people, but new people. Making new friends. And I love singing new material and I think that the big test is that if you like practicing at home. And I love to practice to this stuff at home.

DM) This album seems a little bit different from what you've done before.

OA) Yes, it is. Different in many ways.

Pizzarelli, John

4/10/2003
Dominick A. Miserandino
John talks about his live CD and what makes his group a little unique. We learn what makes his guitar playing stand out and why it is you can always tell a John Pizzarelli song when you hear it.


DM) What made you decide to do the live album?

JP) I think it was the opportunity. They were looking to record the group live and we were going to play at the Birdland and I thought it was a great time to record the group. We're going on ten years and it's a good representation of the work that we've done for the past ten years. It also gave the record company a good reason, we had the material so we got to do the stuff that we had played for ten years and we had the new material.

Jarreau, Al

10/11/2002
Dominick A. Miserandino
A self-described 'hybrid' musician, Pop/R&B/Jazz legend Al Jarreau talks about the intense process to find the authentic spiritual fulfillment in creating truly powerful music, capable of lasting a lifetime.

DM) People have described your music as "excessively passionate." How do you describe it then?

AJ) My music covers Pop and R&B and Jazz--and I couldn't let any of them go, so I have to stand up for those all of the time. More often, it's been people who swear I'm a jazz singer and won't allow me to sing my R&B and pop music; but the fact is that I do all three, and they're very precious and near and dear to me as a singer, and they've become this hybrid because of they're filtering through this "Al Jarreau" screen. But my music is also shot through with Pop and R&B as well.

Bailey, Philip

5/22/2002
Dominick A. Miserandino
Philip talks about his solo career, Earth Wind and Fire and keeping both of these paths going forward. A deeper look into Philip's solo work, the breakup of Earth, Wind and Fire, and keep relationships together.

DM) Most people who recognize you would recognize you from Earth, Wind and Fire. How does this compare to the material you do with them? Will this be a transition for your fans or something different?

PB) This is another aspect, another part of me that they'll be able to glean. If you check out the fact that they checked me out with rock and roll with Phil Collins and gospel with triumph and all those prospects have been critically acclaimed. I won an American Music Award for the Phil Collins [Easy Lover-single] and a Grammy for the gospel. This is just part of my jazz love.

Elko, Janis

11/29/2000
Dominick A. Miserandino
Janis Elko has come a long way from singing in front of frat boys in the local bar. Her newest album with Brutus Bit Me is selling more and more, due in no small part to her Melissa Etheridge-like vocals.

DM) Which piece of your work is your favorite?

JE) So far, it's gotta be "Song About The Subway." There are a lot of reasons, but mostly it's because the subject matter was a little more "daring" than what I usually chose to write about at that time. Also, we got the most experimental with it in the studio, which I think shows ...It's a lot more "fun" than some of the other songs. Additionally, it was a kind of breakthrough for me musically, from when I wrote the first chord progression...I marveled at the simplicity of its arrangement, and the potency of that simplicity.

Stewart, Michael "Patches"

11/29/2000
Dominick A. Miserandino

DM) What was your first musical experience growing up?

P) If you're wondering why I took up the trumpet, I was in grade school and it was the last days of the school year. The junior high school band came over to perform for us, and one of the pieces they played was "Bugler's Holiday", a piece with three trumpet parts. I remember hearing that piece and I just knew that I wanted to do that, too... play the trumpet.

DM) Is anybody else in your family in music?

P) I have a cousin who, when I was growing up, played the trumpet--but not professionally.

Weinberg, Max

10/7/2000
Dominick A. Miserandino
Max Weinberg is currently leading his own band on television's 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien', but he also keeps himself busy with a new CD, and has recently come off a tour with Bruce Springsteen, as a member of the E-Street band. Max tells us about this adventure, in addition to his experiences working on the two best-selling rock albums of all time.



DM) Seems like you've been very busy lately with the Late Night Life, life as an author, and life as a conference speaker, plus touring with the E-Street band.

MW) I really enjoy being busy. I think I'm pretty fortunate, because I think I have the best of both worlds; at least I have for the last year and a half. Playing with my band on Conan O'Brien is really a major dream come true. This is our eighth season, and we've certainly gained a very dedicated audience, which is something I'm very proud of.

Mangione, Chuck

9/30/2000
Dominick A. Miserandino
So what has Chuck Mangione, done since 'Feels So Good' became a number one hit in the 1970's? Well, just a few dozen records, TV appearances, and of course he's released two albums in the past two years. Other then that the jazz master has taken it pretty easy.

DM) At one point in your musical career you took a bit of a hiatus. Why?

CM) The hiatus you spoke about happened in 1998. I was somewhat numb from being out on the road every night. I had to stop because I was emotionally and physically drained.

Spyro Gyra

7/19/2000
Dominick A. Miserandino
Jay from the infamous band Spyro Gyra tells us a bit about his upbringing, his solo album and why he prefers that Spyro Gyra isn't called just a jazz band!

DM) A lot of people know about your career from Spyro Gyra. To start with a nice vague question, what has been going on in your career as of late?

JB) For one thing, I've been doing a lot of Spyro Gyra. We had 90 concerts this year.

DM) I understand that you did a solo album this year.

JB) Yep, and it didn't mean I was leaving Spyro or that I stopped touring with Spyro, I absolutely continued.

DM) So how does the one project differ from the other?

JB) There are a lot of differences. The making of it from the ground up was very different.

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